Improvement in spawning-screen



105176 mmJvuelavopatent Gt'iijiirc.

ALFRED S. COLLINS, 0F CALEDONIA, NEW YORK.

Letters Patent No. 105,176, dated July 12, 1870.

. A IIVIPROVEMEN'I' IN SPAWNING-SCREEN.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of thesame.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED S. Conmns, of Galedonia, in the county ofLivingston and State of New York, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Spawning-Screen; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which willenable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, referencebeing bad to the accompanying drawing forming part of thisspecification.

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in screens orbeds for receiving and securing the spawn of fish, in the art ofpisciculture, whereby the process is greatly simplified, and the labordiminished; and

It consists in the use of a revolving screen, arranged and operating ashereinafter more fully described.

In the accompanying drawing- Figure 1 represents a vertical longitudinalsection of a spawning-bed or box, constructed according to my invention,the section being through the line a: a: of fig. 2.

Figure 2 is a top or plan view of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A is the box in which the screens are placed; this box is placed inthe-raceway of a fish-pond.

B is the upper screen, which is made of wire cloth, which may be eitherin a single piece or in section.

This screen is covered with gravel to a suitable depth, say two inches,more or less. water is received by this screen, and inthc gravel thereonthe fish make their nests or lay their spawn.

i represents a finer screen beneath B, made of fine wire cloth, or ofany other suitable material, tarred muslin, o. mosquito ncttingwillanswer the purpose. This under screen is strengthened by means ofcrossb'ars d, as sci-.11 in the drawing, to prevent sagging, and to copthe screen in place.

This screen forms an endless apron, and is supnortcd on the rollers Eand F, and by grooves in the sides. The spawn which neon deposited bythe on the upper screen will find its way through ihet screen, and bereceived by the fine screen be ncc:h.

G and. H are permanent screens, to prevent the fish fr m getting beneaththe screens, or into the (an of ih: box.

The current of v A moderate quantity of water is allowed to pass throughthe screen H'to the bottom of the box. The whole box is covered duringthe spawning season.

K is a screen, which is hinged, as seen at L. Then the spawn is to besecured or taken from the lower screen, this hinged screen K is raisedand secured in an upright'position. The box being covered, the

-fish are not disturbed, and with the screen K raised,

none of the fish can get into the well L.

N is a narrow trough or box, provid d with a-handle, O, which is letdown in front of the roller E.- The screen 0 is now revolved by turningthe roller E, by means of crank and gearing, as represented, or in anyconvenient manner. In this manner the spawn is carried from therevolving apron screen into the box N. The gentle current of water whichpasses over the apron will carry the eggs into the box without injuringthem.

When the screens are broad, the trough or box N. may be made in sectionssecured in a suitable frame, and emptied separately. This spawningapparatus is adapted to all the various kinds of fish which spawn inshallow water.

The box and screens may be made of any desired length, width, and depth,so as to adapt them to all circumstances.

By the use of the revolving screen the eggs or spawn may be secured in afew minutes, say, eight or ten, whereas by the ordinary method, it wouldrequire a half a day. L

By this arrangement, it is not necessary to put the hands in water tosecure the spawn; by the old method it is indispensable, which, in thecold water required, is extremely disagreeable, and is not nnfrequentlyattended with more serious results.

The spawn is secured in perfect order and without in anymannerdisturbing the fish.

Having thus described my invention,

. I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patcnt- The use of arevolving screen, in combination with a. fish-spawning box or bed,arranged to operate substantially as and for the purposes described.

A. S. COLLINS.

Witn esses:

J. MCKENZIE,

A. Ros

